The study, recently published in Advanced Materials, details how an international research team, led by experts from the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions at the University of Edinburgh, alongside colleagues from the University of Bayreuth, Germany, and the University of Linkoping, Sweden, successfully synthesized carbon nitrides, materials tougher than cubic boron nitride - the second hardest known material after diamond.
This notable achievement came after subjecting carbon and nitrogen precursors to extreme conditions, involving pressures between 70 and 135 gigapascals - approximately one million times that of our atmospheric pressure - and temperatures exceeding 1,500 degrees Celsius. The research team utilized three major particle accelerators for this purpose: the European Synchrotron Research Facility in France, the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron in Germany, and the Advanced Photon Source in the United States. By illuminating the samples with an intense X-ray beam, the researchers were able to decipher the atomic arrangement of these compounds under such extreme conditions.
The study reveals that three different carbon nitride compounds were synthesized, each possessing the essential building blocks for super-hardness. Remarkably, these compounds retained their diamond-like qualities even when they were brought back to normal pressure and temperature conditions. This finding is pivotal as it showcases the stability and durability of these materials outside of laboratory conditions.
Dr. Dominique Laniel from the University of Edinburgh expressed astonishment at the discovery, stating, "Upon the discovery of the first of these new carbon nitride materials, we were incredulous to have produced materials researchers have been dreaming of for the last three decades." This sentiment was echoed by Dr. Florian Trybel from the University of Linkoping, who highlighted the multifunctionality of these materials and their potential to be recovered from synthesis pressures equivalent to those found deep within the Earth's interior.
Apart from their extraordinary hardness, these carbon nitrides also exhibit additional properties such as photoluminescence and high energy density, where a large amount of energy can be stored in a small amount of mass. This opens up a vast array of potential applications, positioning these ultra-incompressible carbon nitrides as ultimate engineering materials. They could find usage in various industrial sectors, including protective coatings for vehicles and spacecraft, high-endurance cutting tools, solar panels, and photodetectors.
The breakthrough is the culmination of over three decades of concerted efforts and research into carbon nitrides. Since the 1980s, when their exceptional properties were first noticed, materials researchers have been attempting to unlock their full potential. This successful synthesis represents a significant milestone in the field and provides a strong incentive to bridge the gap between high-pressure materials synthesis and practical industrial applications.
Funded by the UKRI FLF scheme and European research grants, this research not only underscores the collaborative nature of scientific endeavors but also highlights the continued importance of international cooperation in advancing the frontiers of knowledge.
Research Report:Synthesis of Ultra-Incompressible and Recoverable Carbon Nitrides Featuring CN4 Tetrahedra
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